It doesn’t escape me that Pauline was on the phone and now her voice is paused, despite not hearing the receiver being hung up. I love the woman to death, but she’s the nosy sort.
“In my office?” I ask.
Pretty white teeth dig into his lower lip as his eyes shine. “Of course, Ms. Robbins.”
Ethan walks into my office, and for the first time, I feel a little weird about being alone with him. He has no idea the thoughts I’ve had about him in the last three weeks, and I blame Sylvie for putting certain thoughts in my head. Remembering the dream I woke up from this morning, my body covered in sweat and my heart racing, my skin threatens to flush with embarrassment as if he can read my thoughts.
I clear my voice as I partially close the office door. Not shutting it completely is a safety feature that protects both of us, specifically so I don’t maul the handsome man.
Ethan keeps his eyes on me—a discerning amount of attention—where most people who walk into my office for the very first time look around or comment on the framed diplomas or accolades on the wall. Ethan is a different sort of man, and as much as I hate small talk or handing out information when people ask about certain things on my walls or decorations I use, I’m wishing for it right now.
“I wanted to thank you again for helping me a few weeks ago.”
He nods. “Any decent person would’ve done what I did.”
Is he saying that he’d do it for anyone and that I’m not special? I feel a rush of regret for even thinking it because of course he would. He’s the type of man to step in and help where it’s needed. That’s not a bad trait to have.
“I owe you for your kindness.”
“You don’t,” he assures me.
“I do,” I argue. “I’d like to take you to dinner to thank you.”
His demeanor shifts, that professional edge to his behavior since we walked in here softening as a slow smile spreads across his face.
“That’s not going to happen.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut.
“Okay.” I nod, my body going into fight-or-flight mode, knowing that flight is going to win out to get me away from the rejection.
“I’d never let a woman buy me dinner.”
Ethan steps around me to leave.
“I’ll pick you up at seven,” he says with complete confidence before he walks out of my office.
With my jaw nearly touching the floor, I stand in the middle of my office wondering how he turned the tables on me so quickly.
Chapter 11
Legend
Faith’s house is a cute bungalow style with a wide front porch. As I walk up, however, the first thing I notice are the broken flower pots off to the side. I have every intention of asking her about them, but when she opens the front door wearing a sexy black dress, my mind blanks of anything but resisting the urge to reach out and touch her.
I want to know what the fabric feels like against my fingers. I ache to see that dress on the floor of my bedroom or in the middle of her living room or bedroom. At this point, I’m not picky about the placement of the discarded dress so long as she’s out of it and standing before me naked.
“Ethan?”
I look up from the way the hem of the dress is flirting with the middle of her trim thighs, unable to hide the desire in my eyes. I’ve done my best to keep my needs under wraps around her. I don’t take her as a woman that would be impressed with knowing that I have such filthy thoughts about her swimming around in my head on a constant loop, but she smiled at me earlier in her office when she caught me looking at her ass. She wasn’t turned off or disgusted, so there’s no point in hiding it now.
“You look amazing.”
Her eyes brighten as she smiles at me, her fingers pinching the edge of her dress, drawing all my attention back to her legs. “This old thing?”
The teasing in her voice is clear, and I love that she took the effort to look so fucking delectable.
“Is it too forward of me to mention I’d like to see it on the floor?”
“The floor?” she asks with a gasp, but I can hear the teasing tone of her voice. “But I’m nearly naked underneath.”
I huff a laugh, my eyes raking up her body to meet hers. “Are you going to tease me all night?”
Just looking at her is one long tease, but I must be a glutton for punishment because I’m looking forward to every damn second.
“I’ll behave,” she says as she reaches inside to grab her purse before pulling the door closed and locking it.